to acquire an understanding of

USAGE SUMMARY

'to acquire an understanding of' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone is gaining knowledge or insight into a subject. For example: "He studied literature for many years in order to acquire an understanding of literary theory."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Princess Fatima told the President through an interpreter [Weyman] that she was in this country as a traveller and to obtain an education for her sons and to acquire an understanding of the United States.

The New Yorker

Working with the Praxis Center, will allow Qiao to acquire an understanding of the dynamics of business, which would have been difficult to learn in a purely academic environment.

Cornell University

Areas of interest were primarily the screen room and the oxygen delignification stage, where it was desired to acquire an understanding of how the proposed upgrades were going to affect the overall process.

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

To acquire an understanding of the societal costs of dementia and how they affect families, health and social care services, and governments to improve the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers.

Alzheimer's & Dementia

The European Commission?s Translation Service offers 5-month in-house traineeships for graduates who wish to acquire an understanding of its work and gain professional translation experience.

Science Magazine

Trend's study suggests that the inclusion of narratives of unique historical events within the teaching of biology can enable students to acquire an understanding of deep time and, thus, provide students with a temporal framework for micro-evolutionary processes.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The response in rainfall partitioning to strip thinning can also help us to acquire an integrated understanding of the changes in canopy water balance under different forest practices.

Journal of Hydrology

By the very nature of their work, most of our staff specialists in industry do not have the intimate contact with operating groups that allows them to acquire an intuitive understanding of the complex social arrangements which their ideas may affect.

Harvard Business Review

The transcribed interviews were first read through to acquire an overall understanding of the content related to the research aim.

BMC Public Health

The purpose of this study was to acquire a deeper understanding of patients' memories of being injured and the trajectory of care before, during and after their Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay.

BMC Nursing

The purpose of this study was to acquire a deeper understanding of patients' memories of being injured and the trajectory of care before, during and after the ICU stay.

BMC Nursing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase to emphasize the process of learning and gaining knowledge over time, rather than a sudden moment of understanding.

Common error

Avoid using this phrase in contexts where a simpler word like "understand" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to acquire an understanding of" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intent. It describes the goal of an action, indicating what someone hopes to achieve through a particular activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

Academia

20%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to acquire an understanding of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that signifies the process of gaining knowledge or insight. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for formal contexts like scientific research, academic studies, and professional communications. While versatile, it’s essential to avoid overusing it in simple contexts where "to understand" would suffice. The phrase finds prominence in scientific and academic writings, emphasizing the deliberate effort involved in learning. Consider related phrases such as "to gain insight into" or "to develop an appreciation for" to refine your expression based on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to gain insight into

Focuses on obtaining a deeper, more intuitive grasp of a subject, often implying a sudden realization.

to comprehend

A more formal and direct way to express understanding, lacking the nuance of gradual acquisition.

to become conversant in

Implies achieving a level of knowledge sufficient for discussion and understanding, particularly in a specific field.

to build a knowledge base of

Implies accumulating information and expertise systematically, often with a long-term goal.

to develop an appreciation for

Emphasizes a gradual growth of liking or valuing something, implying a more emotional connection than pure understanding.

to cultivate a perspective on

Focuses on developing a specific viewpoint or way of interpreting something, suggesting a more personal and subjective understanding.

to familiarize oneself with

Suggests becoming acquainted with the basic aspects of a topic or skill, often implying practical application.

to get to grips with

A more informal phrase suggesting effort to comprehend something challenging.

to master the intricacies of

Highlights the detailed and complex aspects of a subject, suggesting a desire for thorough knowledge and skill.

to wrap your head around

A very informal way of saying that you understand something difficult or complex.

FAQs

How can I use "to acquire an understanding of" in a sentence?

This phrase indicates a process of learning. For example, "She attended the lecture series to acquire an understanding of quantum physics."

What are some alternatives to "to acquire an understanding of"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "to gain insight into", "to develop an appreciation for", or simply "to understand."

Is there a difference between "to acquire an understanding of" and "to have an understanding of"?

"To acquire an understanding of" implies a process of learning and gaining knowledge, while "to have an understanding of" suggests already possessing that knowledge.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "to acquire an understanding of" in formal writing?

Use this phrase in academic, scientific, or professional contexts when you want to emphasize the effort and process involved in gaining knowledge or insight. For example in a research paper or a business proposal.